The escalating tensions in West Asia have prompted a large-scale evacuation of Indian nationals from Israel, with the first batch of students from Odisha arriving safely in Bhubaneswar. This follows the launch of "Operation Sindhu" by the Indian government to repatriate its citizens from conflict zones.

The initial group of students, who were pursuing higher education in Israel, landed in New Delhi before making their way to Bhubaneswar. These students expressed immense relief and gratitude to the Indian government for their safe evacuation, recounting harrowing experiences of missile attacks and frequent shelter visits. Dr. Arup Kumar Sahu, an Indian national evacuated from Israel, described the situation as "very scary," stating that he would always remember "those 10 nights of war."

Preeti Shubadarshini, a student at Tel Aviv University, shared the difficulties they faced, including sleepless nights spent rushing to bunkers every few hours. She added that the Indian Embassy provided crucial support throughout the evacuation process, unlike some other countries that left their citizens to navigate the borders independently. Venkatesh Varma, a research scientist at the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) in Haifa, explained that they would receive messages on the Home Front Command app minutes before missile attacks, instructing them to find shelter within 60-90 seconds of the sirens.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has also played a significant role in Operation Sindhu, repatriating hundreds of Indian nationals from Israel via connecting points like Jordan and Egypt. As of June 24, 2025, the IAF had brought back 594 Indians from Israel. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad.

Amidst the evacuation efforts, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has addressed misinformation circulating on social media, clarifying that no Indian workers in Israel would be forced to return home. The embassy has urged citizens to rely on official updates and has emphasized that the registration of Indian nationals is to facilitate assistance and welfare schemes, especially during times of crisis.

The evacuation process has been a complex logistical operation, with flights coordinated across multiple countries. Despite a ceasefire being announced, the risk of renewed escalation remains high, prompting India to expedite the evacuation to ensure the safety of its citizens. The government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving real-time updates on the situation.

In total, India has evacuated over 3,170 citizens from Iran and Israel since the launch of Operation Sindhu. With the evacuation process winding down, the Indian Embassy in Iran has closed its contact desk for new registrations but continues to monitor the situation closely, ready to reassess its strategy if the security of Indian nationals is threatened again.